During my time at quite a good Grammar School – late ’50s to early ’60s – full uniform was essential in school and to and from school. One of the worst crimes we could commit was to travel home without wearing our cap, or even pushing it to the back of our head. It was an automatic detention or even more. Not far behind was loosening our tie.
I had the misfortune to join the Combined Cadet Force. That meant that every Friday we had to wear full army/navy/RAF uniform all day. Sitting on the bus, we were always ridiculed by boys from other schools who didn’t have to suffer this indignity. I always said that i spent a year trying to join and 5 years trying to get out, and only succeeded in one.